HISTORY OF THE SHEIK OF BUSHIRE. 
19 
resistance, he had already taken I he precaution of shipping most 
of his property on his own vessels, and with them meditated to 
retire to Bussora. 
The commander of the Shiraz horsemen, to whom the commission 
was intrusted, was Mahomed Khan, the Nasakchee Bashee , an office 
not ill understood by that of chief executioner *. He is always em¬ 
ployed, at least, in seizing state prisoners, though his personal character 
is rather opposite to the duties of his situation; for to the facetiousness 
of his temper, according to the report of his countrymen, he owes the 
favour of the Prince of Shiraz , and through that favour, his office; 
and, as a second consequence, the monopoly of tobacco f\ In the dis¬ 
charge of his functions the Nasakchee Bashee is generally supposed to 
realize in every commission a considerable sum, besides the maintenance 
of himself and his followers at the expence of the individuals against 
whom he may successively be sent. While he waited the accomplish¬ 
ment of his present attempt, he remained encamped «at a short distance 
from the town. About twelve o’clock on the 18th, he made a visit of 
ceremony to the Envoy. He was attended by eighteen men, himself 
alone mounted on a horse; on his arrival he seated himself on a couch 
next to Sir Harford Jones, and his men extended themselves in two 
* Hanway limits the functions; “ the officer who makes seizures,” vol. ii. p. 372: see 
also Abdul Kurreem, p. 14. Both authorities connect rank and importance to the situa¬ 
tion. In the East, indeed, the duties even of an executioner appear to have been held in very 
different estimation from that which is attached to them in Europe. “ Les Bourreaux en 
Georgie,” says Tournefort, “ sont fort riches, et les gens de qualite y exercent cette, 
“ charge; bien loin qu’elle soit reputee infame, comme dans tout le reste du monde, e’est 
“ un titre glorieux en ce pays-la pour les families. On s’y vante d’avoir eu plusieurs 
“ bourreaux parmi ses ancestres, et ils se fondent sur le principe qu’il n’y a rien de si 
“beau que d’executer Injustice, sans laquelle on ne s^auroit vivre en seurete. Voila 
“ une maxime bien digne des Georgiens.” Tom. II. 311. “ Arioch, the Captain of the 
King’s Guard,” (of Babylon , Dan. II. 14.) is yet stiled by the Chaldee in the margin, 
“ Chief of the Executioners or Slaughter-men.” 
+ “ Jooyum is the district where the Tobacco grows, and it is understood that the trade 
“ there is managed by its proprietor dextrously and profitably.” 
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